Stratasys' Objet500 Connex color, multi-material 3D Printer has been a key driver in the launch of PRIM, enabling Promolding to reduce injection mold lead times for its customers by 93% (Photo: Business Wire).

With a reputation for creating high-tech plastic parts using high
performance polymer-based solutions, Promolding provides advanced
designs and products to a diverse customer base, including household
names such as Heineken and Airbus. Having initially utilized Stratasys
PolyJet 3D printing to solve a number of complex applications within
product development, the company has extended the use of its
Objet500
Connex 3D Printer to enhance the injection molding process – opening
the door to a new business opportunity.

“We became increasingly aware of the need for a 3D printer that would
help us optimize our product development process,” says Jeroen Gross,
Product Development Manager, Promolding. “We looked at several different
options, but fell in love with Stratasys’ Objet Connex 3D Printer and
its ability to not only improve our prototyping, but also become a key
driver for our PRIM business. Traditionally, injection mold development
required at least a six-week lead time, but by designing and 3D printing
the molds in-house, we can produce molds in just three days.

“PRIM is available to our customers as an additional service in parallel
to prototyping and traditional injection molding,” he adds. “In the
future, we believe PRIM will be seen as a commonplace process of its
own. We have come a long way and we’ll continue to explore further
applications in which PolyJet 3D printing can enhance our offering.”

With increased flexibility and significant time efficiencies a key part
of the PRIM division’s value proposition, Promolding is able to rapidly
design and develop very complex parts and products for its customers.
When recently designing a fibre optic sensor house for Fugro, a world
leader in integrated geotechnical, survey, subsea and geoscience
services, the company quickly produced a series of complex molds using
its Objet500 Connex 3D Printer in order to meet the customer’s tight
deadline. Each mold enabled the production of over 50 samples of the
intricate sensor housing in a number of final product materials,
including PP, TPE and PBT.

“Particularly with the development of bigger and more complex products,
it is crucial as a business that we are as efficient as possible
throughout the product development process, without compromising on
quality,” explains Gross. “Having our 3D printer has enabled us to
achieve this and given us an incredible level of flexibility. We can use
the technology in the early development phases to speed up the design
process and develop, review and adapt prototypes earlier, but also
extend the efficiencies into production through our PRIM process. It
really has been a game-changer and we’ve seen the benefits passed onto
our customers.”

“Additive manufacturing has the power to transform business models and
Promolding is a prime example,” concludes Andy Middleton. “We are seeing
more and more customers realize the full potential of our PolyJet 3D
printing technology, going beyond the immediate efficiencies within
product design and pioneering the disruption of traditional
manufacturing processes. In the case of injection molding, 3D printed
injection molds are redefining the price-performance benchmark for low
volume production, giving manufacturers the flexibility to produce
products in the final injected material faster than ever before.”

For more than 25 years,Stratasys
Ltd. (NASDAQ:
SSYS) has been a defining force and dominant
player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing – shaping the way
things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot,
Israel, the company empowers customers across a broad range of vertical
markets by enabling new paradigms for design and manufacturing. The
company’s solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom and
manufacturing flexibility – reducing time-to-market and lowering
development costs, while improving designs and communications. Stratasys
subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the Stratasys
ecosystem includes 3D printers for prototyping and production; a wide
range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct
Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; and the
Thingiverse and GrabCAD communities with over 2 million 3D printable
files for free designs. With more than 2,700 employees and 800 granted
or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more
than 30 technology and leadership awards. Visit us online at:
www.stratasys.com
or
http://blog.stratasys.com/ ,
and follow us on
LinkedIn .